Solum Reign discussion

Here in the Forest and Moors rest dark and magical creatures Witches can often capture and tame and use for potion making.
It is filled with it's own life seeming everything has it's own body and mind.


The place of Dominus Markus's Dark Rituals at the crossing of Varlorin into Ӕldingar.


This is where Seraphine the sister of Himeko lives. High in the tree tops within the center of the darkest part of the forest. It is unsafe to even venture to the base of this fortress.

Damian walked in front of his mother guiding her to the dark place where Seraphine was sure to be awaiting their arrival. Jakub stayed close by as it was hard enough to walk around the entangled vines and rocks that made up the land mass. "Kralitsa...How do you know that aeson and his band of criminals came this way?" Jakub asked sensing the darkness here and after spending a few days in Ӕldingar he wasn't to keen to be exposed to such evil again.

Himeko followed her son, knowing no horse would be able to trudge through this mess of vines and moss, not only that but it was tricky and treacherous even by foot the land holding hidden sink holes and worse. The animal chatter echoing through the woods was not helping in the least. She knew this wasn't the best idea but if it gave them a clue as to how to stop this infection then so be it. She looked over at Jakub, sensing his unease and quite rightly too. "Because he talked of a queen of darkness and Damian pointed out earlier of a women with vast dark magic, so hence it must be connected." She told him, giving him a light pat on the shoulder as reassurance. "We will get through this." She promised, finding the roots got bigger and steeper the more they went in along with them losing sight of the sun. Shadows moved, foreign animals giggled, cackled and squawked but most of all the plant life was not as serene as it seemed, it was more alive than it appeared. Some gave a glowing trail up a magnificent thick trunked tree that spiralled almost guiding the way. Himeko stumbled to a stop, finding a wall of energy surrounding the tree that felt so thick and weighted that it felt like breathing in tar. "We're here." She whispered, looking up to find a looming castle hidden within the trees looking like a fired eyed monster glaring down at them ready to swallow them whole. Vines slithered to create a green carpet of steps, almost taunting them to come up and say hello to their fate.

Damian stopped in his tracks looking up, "Yes, this is certainly it. I remember it like a nightmare." He said having flashbacks of Seraphine poisoning his mind summoning demons and darkness to stian him from within. Damian recalled the pain he felt as a demon was fused to his soul and his powers. He winced at the memories. Damian turned to face his mother. "With a growing army and the gods only know what else is up there are you really considering going up there mother? I only have a sediment of my powers and Jakub doesn't know what we are dealing with and you alone can't take on an army. You are powerful, but I know better than to think you that powerful."
Jakub nodded in agreement, "He's right, Kralitsa. Even you couldn't challenge an army of darkness alone. we came ill prepared."

Himeko looked to her son seeing the memory of pain etched onto his fine features and it hurt to see how much she had let him suffer so. They were right she was not an all powerful being but she was damn well going to try if it meant saving her kingdom and her family. Even if she had to die for life to continue. "True I am none of those things but I am not about to go without a fight. And it would seem this women is far more than she seems and connected to the sudden imbalance we are experiencing." She told them. "I would ask you to come with me but I wouldn't put it past you to retreat and go home. I wouldn't ask you to give up more than you felt you could give. You are brave to have come this far." She murmured, turning she took to the stairs. As she went felt worse by the minute until they stepped into a foyer than looked impossibly grand though it was made from most things that resided in the moors. A creature with what looked like the body of a money, wings of a bat, horns of a demon and claws of a hawk waited for them, eyes gleaming. It lead them up the stairs and into a room where Seraphine awaited holding a golden goblet, draped in silk finery. She looked like an angel on a pedestal awaiting to be worshipped. She looked for all the world like a spitting image of her sister. "Do come in." She beckoned in an enchantingly sweet tone.

Damian and Jakub stayed on either side of Himeko. They were not abotu to abandon her. This was a moment that needed as much aid as it could get. Damian knew even if most of his power was diminished for the time being he had to stand by his mother. Jakub stood as his eyes began to burn brightly with an inner fire. He was ready to kill this woman and be done with it. What struck him as odd was that her aura was so dark, yet she was no Vampire. Damian looked ready to either get sick or throw a punch...possibly both. His fist were tightly clinched with his jaw locked.
Then out of the corner of Jakubs eye he saw movement and Aeson was beside of him walking toward this woman who seemed to deem herself queen-worthy. Jakub nearly jumped out of his skin at the sight of Aeson confused as to whether he should glare and walk away or fight him.

Himeko stood staring at a women who impossibly seemed familiar in spirit, like she had come across her before yet knew she had never seen her in any life time. Seraphine's eyes burned into Jakub's at his childish threat, wondering what he would do if he had to take the consequences. Seraphine sat up straighter before standing, elegant though most thought her some feral witch with warts and a gnarled face. Seraphine's gaze landed on Damian, her eyes turning soft, nurturing even loving but not for those of motherly tones more because one of her puppets had returned afresh and breakable. She smiled sweetly as Aeson came in, reaching her hand out to bring him close. "My sweet Aeson, I see you are well." She murmured, pecking his lips. Himeko felt sick. "I take it your Seraphine?" She asked, when eyes met her own she felt a rush of energy that sparked and stung her very nerve endings. Seraphine blinked, puling away from the delectable Aeson. "Of course, at your service... Kralistra Himeko." She murmured, curtsying low like that to one royal to another as a sign of respect. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked straightening, coming down a few steps to pluck a dark red cherry from a bowl but it was dark it looked almost black. "Would you care for some?" She offered looking to Damian and then along the line to land on Jakub before returning to her sister. "They are to die for." Her eyes sparked red.

Damian and Jakub both seemed hesitant as if they were challenging themselves to take one of the fruits. Damian looks over at Jakub warning him not to as it all began for him that way. Damian glared coldly at the Witch. "I'd honestly rather die than be enticed by your fruits once more."
Jakub looked at Damian almost frightened for him. "We are here to claim what is not yours and never has been. The hold on balance in Solum and Gemal Aeson." Jakub said rather bravely not wanting Himeko to see him as someone who is strong enough to stand, but to weak to talk and walk. "Himeko is the Kralitsa of Ӕldingar and as a Witch she is your superior so unless you want a war coming to burn down your little forest it is advised to do as we say." Jakub tried sounding threatening, but his eyes kept darting between Seraphine and Aeson both rather intimidating.

Aeson laughed coldly, "Damian, you were free and I see that now. You mother has simply weakened you and blinded you again. Seraphina can offer you freedom from your mothers bonds and can grant you greater powers than what she had taken before. Join us, my son and we shall rule over all kingdoms in a peaceful union." Aeson promised coldly.

Seraphine had to hand it to Damian he was even more fun to toy with second time round. "That can be arranged, though you managed to escape it once as I believe, did you." She looked to Jakub, her eyes swirling to mesmerise. She had watched him grow up and found him to be an enticing morsel to test. She bit into the cherry a thin line of dark red juice coating her lips in a glossy tease. Himeko looked to Jakub in worry feeling energy flare at his words. Seraphine looked shocked for a moment before her lips quirked in a snigger of joy at his naivety. "Little boys shouldn't go poking their noses in things they know nothing about. Didn't your father ever tell you it was rude to speak when not spoken to?" She asked him, Markus's voice giving a nasty line of disapproval in Jakub's ear for his delight only. Himeko looked bereft. "Aeson, what ... How can you..." She was losing her composure. "What have you done to him?" She asked making Seraphine smile as she ran a finger down Aeson's pulse line, pressing a cherry coated kiss to his cheek. "Why nothing at all. I have simply given him what he has always wanted." She mused, picking another cherry from the bowl. "Are you sure you wouldn't like one? Maybe some wine perhaps? I have a feast prepared if you'd care to talk over dinner."

((gtg))

Damian couldn't take it anymore she was getting under his skin and he lashed out throwing afist through the air as a gust of storm cloud soared into the room hailing and lightening. "You foul evil creature. I'll see you placed in the depths of the Underworld where only your shadows can comfort you!"

Aeson smirked reacting quickly as metal began to weave through the air and wrap around Damian. "Now I thought your powers were suppressed...How did you manage that one?"

(( Kk ))

Himeko tensed at the sudden change in atmosphere as she watched almost in slow motion as her son attacked the witch before her yet Aeson was far quicker to retaliate. "Damian!" She called to him, using telekinesis to shove him out of the way of the metal at the last minute. But even she knew her son shouldn't be capable of such a feat even after being stripped down to a human being and reborn again. "Stop it." She raised her hands, warning both boys to stand down. She looked to her son in confusion, questioning his sudden power source. Seraphine chuckled with delight at the family dispute. "Aeson my sweet, try not to hurt the boy just yet. Once we're done you can do with them what you please to your hearts content." She promised in a languid purr along his ear. Himeko took a breath. "It seems you know me, yet I don't know you. I would appreciate your understanding in returning the balance." She asked Seraphine who smiled like the cheshire cat. "Oh but my dear, you do know me." She murmured.

Damian shook his head as he pushed himself back off of the ground. He looked a bit confused himself at the burst of power, but he was not abotu to try and elaborate for all to hear and know everything. His mother hadn't even given him a speck of his powers back yet. As many questions as Damian was raising the important matter was still at hand. Aeson was evil...Seraphine seemed to know the Kralitsa enough to sound almost sensually close to her. Jakub was simply present trying to control his anger. Damian began to think...Anger...That's how it always started when Seraphine's darkness was attempting to break into someone. No matter the justness of the rage it was rage and rage was apart of darkness. "Jakub calm down...it's what she wants...she has proven that on me just now...Don't get angry." Jakub nodded seeming to somewhat understand. "Okay, Kralitsa Himeko what do we do because Aeson won't be in desire to return home anytime soon and this Seraphine lady is really starting to get under my skin." Jakubs said his eyes still flaming within as his body began turning reddish with a fever. Jakub was trying hard to suppress as much anger he was feeling intensified within as much as possible.

Seraphine loved the smell of pure brewed anger in the morning but even more so abject fear was a delicacy for dinner with a hint of heart wrenching sorrow for dessert after. She watched the boys finding their mutterings amusing considering it wouldn't save them from her real torment. If she wanted she could have them squawking like birds who believed they were mutts that did nothing but stare into a mirror all day for fun. She snapped her gaze to Jakub. "That is Tsaritsa Seraphine, insolent boy." Eyes sparking with endless darkness. "And you wouldn't want me under your skin." Himeko nodded in understanding, finding it hard to look at Aeson without regret and sadness in her eyes. But her mind kept turning. "i don't understand. How can I know you if this is the first time we've met?" She asked and something of long ago affection crossed Seraphine's face. "Because we a two very similar people." Seraphine told her, pulling away from Aeson she bit into another cherry. Himeko gave her a hard stare that protested otherwise, which only made Seraphine chuckle. "You wouldn't remember because you were so young and our mother stripped me from your life and your precious memory.... sister dearest." She murmured a hint of bitterness seeping through. "Come now, I have a feast prepared and a chat always tastes better over dinner." She mused, turning on her heel.

Damian hated to think he should, but upon instinct turned and followed the Tsaritsa. "Mother...I don't like this. She is being far too kind to us and I don't like it." Damian said getting glimpses of his own memories of being here. She was not even kind to him. Jakub allowed the Kralitsa to move in line with Damian before he took up behind her. He wasn't taking any chances of the only person he knew strong enough to defeat such evils in this world being taken out from behind. They followed the 'Tsaritsa' into a large dining hall which looked far less inviting than the throne room. Jakub had lost his appetite at how good things actually looked. It sickened him to see such perfection in a dark place as this. "You know for some leader over people you live well enough...It makes me wonder if your people starve so you may live so well." Jakub just wasn't one to keep his mouth closed.

Seraphine took a seat at the head of the table whilst Himeko did the same at the other end. The boys were allowed to sit anywhere in between. The feast before them was that fit for a festival of kings, each more enticing than the other. "I know Damian but we must talk to her if we are restore some balance and save the kingdom. Markus isn't half as powerful as he'd like to be and is no doubt having aid from this women." She told them. Seraphine picked up a golden goblet and sipped some vintage wine. "Jakub, I am not at stupid as mundane kings, letting their people starve to some filthy mass waiting for a morsel all for a spot more gold. There is no point, in fact such a thing hinders not blossoms as I'm sure Himeko knows." She told her, but her eyes flashed as they bored into Jakub. "I came here and lived feral. I would no sooner betray these moors than my people. This forest was far more caring and understanding than a mother ever could be." She told him as fresh pork with all the trimmings was set before them all, streaming, enticing and most of all mouth watering, along with wine and fresh bread being offered. "Seraphine I would greatly appreciate your cooperation. War is upon us and to halt such travesties we need to return the balance." She told her. Sensually eating a succulent mouthful of pork she smirked. "Yes I know." She told her, sipping her wine. "I helped make this war your so afraid of losing." She mused.

Damian and Jakub were sitting on either side of Himeko while Aeson sat on Seraphine's right side. Jakub kept his eyes locked on seraphine's the entire time she spoke and did not dare to averty when her gaze of darkness focused upon him. Damian gripped his silverware rather heated himself as he began to contemplate how to leave should something occur. Jakub began wondering if this Witch was the reason his father was the way he was. If he would have understood more fully why the Kralitsa broke him and Jakub's mother up perhaps he would not have been driven into such evil. "Tell me what you gain from creating such evil in this world, Tsaritsa." Jakub said coldness under his breath even in his own pit of fire.

Seraphine sighed at such an annoying question as if it should be obvious to the boy who grew up in such a dark situation. "Because witch-ling it means I become all powerful and I get the right to take my rightful place. You see Himeko stole my crown." She told him, eating a carrot with delicacy. Himeko frowned. "I did no such thing. I was born into my crown and took my rights to become Kralistra." She told her. "Yes and because your mother deemed me blacker than a void of evil she banned me to the moors. You still don't remember after all these years. I would have expected your memories to seep through after mothers demise but even in death she won't let it go." She shrugged. Himeko grew confused. "You keep referring to the past as if it is ours to share. You seem to know my mother well and you speak to me so informally. Who are you?" Seraphina looked Himeko dead in the eyes. "I am Seraphina Miriam Fujioka. Your twin sister, dearest." Himeko paled, mind trying to find an explanation, shaking her head in protest to such a fowl joke. Seraphine just watched in fascination as she let it soak in, having wanted to tell her for such a long time.

Jakub interrupted the awkward silence of revelations. "How is it that Himeko stole your crown if she founded the kingdom Ӕldingar? It makes no sense for me to believe such a thing when the Kralitsa is in fact the rightful holder over the kingdom and her daughter, my mother the rightful heir. Seraphine I have known you with very little time and I already see you as conniving and cruel and I expect every word that escapes your lips to be a lie." Jakub would gladly stand up for the one woman who seemed to think he was something greater than darkness. It made him happy to think that perhaps he did belong with the family of royals. He surely wasn't the greatest misfit of the bunch. Then thoughts of his past began to arise. When darkness nearly had hold of him he was plagued with the ever lasting memory of murdering his own brother for power.

Seraphine looked at Jakub half bored of his insistent questions. "You wouldn't understand." She told him, looking to her sister. "I was originally meant to be Kralistra. It was I who was meant to have the crown and it was I that had the power to do so." She told him, the room suddenly writhing with untold mysteries of pain and sorrow as darkness licked at their feet. "Do not deem me to lie because I have never lied, I have just chosen a time in which the truth would be most effective." She boomed, eyes burning with swirling shadows. Himeko needed time that she didn't have. "I don't know you, you are not my sister, I would remember such a large part of my life!" She bellowed. "How about I jog your memory?" Seraphine was sipping her wine at one end of the table one minute and holding Himeko to the floor at the other end of the table the next, kneeling over her, brushing curled from her face. "We used to share secrets, you patched up my scratches and I'd save you from others. We laughed, we played, and all because of mother I was outcast at a very young age and when I came back you looked at me like a stranger." She breathed as Himeko gripped the hand that clutched her neck. "Stop it." She whispered. "No! I want you to remember." Seraphine seethed snapping the wards around Himeko's memories, reaching in and snapping them open. "You owe me more than a crown!" Himeko gasped as a wash of pictures flooded back in such force that she went limp.

Jakub and Damian both stood almost instantly upon realizing that Himeko was no longer in her seat and neither was Seraphine who moved with the shadows as if true movement were far less possible. Jakub's hands suddenly lit into bright hot flames pushing the shadows away as he aimed right at Seraphine. Damian held two knives from the table conducting electricity between the metals as storm clouds swirled above. Then it hit Damian hard. He had realized why his powers were suddenly coming back. It was because Seraphine was so powerful she made aspell that recreated the elements of souls and made them dark as she took away the good elements the dark ones remained. Somewhere in this building his inner elements of light were fighting to escape whatever Seraphina had them in. Damian was getting his memories back the longer he was here and it worried him that he might still be dark, but he couldn't be if he was summoning his powers in such a dark place bringing forth the light of his element. "Let her go!" Jakub commanded to Seraphina." Aeson didn't move seeming frozen as stone until commanded to do so.

((gtg))

Seraphine looked over her shoulder at the two boys, smirking at their protective attempts as she stood over her sister. "Oh please." She pitied their naïveté, knowing full well why Damian had the sudden power burst. Aeson still had the vile and all that was needed to complete it was Himeko's blood and tears, but for now it was leaking. Hell it wasn't any fun if the hopeless had no hope to start with. She appeared before Damian raising her hands either side of his head. "I knew there was a... Spark between us." Electricity went through his temples, not enough to kill but maim as she planted a cherry kiss to his cheek watching him fall out of her view. She went back to Himeko. Himeko was panting at the thrashing of memories. "Come now sister dear, don't be so dense." She murmured, leaning down again, waiting for her to wake, having ignored Jakub but made the threat clear.

Jakub watched Damian fall to the ground in complete shock. His eyes were no longer swirling with fire inside, but instead were seeming to be made of actual flames. Jakub's throat began to burn hot glowing red as if a large brazen container trying to hold back the fires within. Jakub's skin began to crack like molten rock and his mouth and nostrils began to glow brightly as the mouth of a volcano abotu to erupt.
His hands were allowing the flames to extend up his arms. "Get away from the Kralitsa, now!" He ordered as his entire body swelled with flames. Aeson stood from his seat ready to attack on command. If Jakub did anything to hurt Seraphine he would gladly kill him just as easily as he had before.

She felt the room suddenly become warm with the heat that radiated off Jakub in waves. Oh the little prince didn't like to be challenged it seemed, but she was going to be scaring the flames right off him. She looked at Jakub and his insolent tone of words. "No." She simply shrugged and turned back to her sister, giving Aeson a look to stand down and enjoy the show, because even though he was her lovely little puppet he would still remember everything and anything he'd ever done which would be even more beautiful to witness. Himeko lay still for a moment before she sucked in a lung full of air, looking dazed. "Now do you remember?" Seraphine asked brushing her finger against Himeko's cheek, catching a stray tear. Himeko on instinct slapped her sisters hand away. "I regret how mother went about such things, but then again she was right in what she did as well. Even as a child you almost killed someone." She told her which had Seraphina glaring. "Yes only because you were too weak to fight back, always have and always will be." She muttered when Himeko noticed Damian lying on the floor with wide eyes. "What have you done to my son!" She demanded which had Seraphina smiling. "Oh I just taught him a little life lesson. Don't worry he's taking a little snooze." She chuckled as Himeko raised a hand with a sphere of light aimed at Seraphina, who promptly slapped her own hand over the light with one of darkness. "Oh so closer sister dearest, but you'll have to do better than that." She teased as sparks flew between their hands. "Leave the boys alone." Himeko tried which got a head shake in reply. "No I've only just begun."

Jakub glared once more before screaming in a roar as flames shot forward at Seraphine and Aeson. "I said get away from Himeko!" That was the first he had used the Kralista's name aloud. Jakub shot flames up and in seconds the entire room became engulfed by the fire and as Jakub's temper grew so did the violence and speed of the flames as they seemed to take the shape of serpents climbing the ceiling and walls. Aeson was blasted back but managed to put up a large metal shield over himself before the flames hit. He stood no longer able to sit by and watch. He pushed his hand forward making a choking motion in Jakub's direction as metal moved around gathering into ropes as they wrapped around Jakub. The metal was hot and burning into Jakub's skin as it was not fire once it got to hot it became molten and that was simply something Jakub could create, but not manipulate. His wrist and legs were gripped then his throat as he began to be raised into the air. His serpent flames retaliated in defense moving to swirl into a fierce cyclone around Aeson.

Seraphina watched a fire ball came towards her, going wide eyed as it hit her stomach causing her scream and buckle forward. Himeko scrambled to get up feeling her necklace crumble to ash to the ground. Her damn had been broken and there was no longer stopping the full extent of her power except for her self control. Slow laughter bubbled up from Seraphina as she stood up, brushing herself off like nothing had happened. "Yum." She said as a puff of smoke left her lips in rings. Shadows began bubbling with life, getting thicker and deadlier before in a rush the fire was snuffed out, bouncing off walls to race towards Jakub. "Jakub stop!" Himeko called as she threw up shields of light around him watching as shadows reeled back. "Nice reflexes sister dearest, he almost didn't make it." Seraphina smirked, muttering a spell as symbols appeared in front of Jakub. "If your that energetic, you can entertain your brother." She grinned. "Us grown ups need to talk." She swept her hands and Jakub's brother rose from the ground, looking a little grey in the face with black eyes but pretty animated all the same. "And beware he's a little resentful for what you did."

Aeson kept Jakub bound as the necro form of his brother moved without hesitation, "My poor brother, must die and suffer my same torments in the lands of demons." Jakub could hardly move or speak except for, "No...please...no..." He struggled against his bindings and failed as his brother had inhuman power punching hard into Jakubs abdomen until blood came out of Jakub's mouth. Jakub cried out the fire dying completely on him. His brother smirked whispering his last words into his ear ebfore biting into his neck hard. "The dead need the blood of the living, brother...You shall be my nourishment so that I may return to this world." The bloody mouth of jakub's brother spoke before digging into his arm and ripping away Jakub's shirt as he began feasting on the flesh of his living brother. Jakub could only release a blood curdling scream of pain.

Himeko looked pale at the sudden appearance of the dead. "Stop it Seraphina, there is no need for this! Let him go!" Seraphina smirked. "Oh don't worry sister dear, I haven't forgotten about you." She grinned. Himeko gave her sister a stern look as the earth began to shake. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, for those living the dead are paired, time must rest for time is the cost." Light shot up from the ground in a pentagon as the earth gave way to a deep dark hole. "Return to the ground and be forever remembered." Jakub's brother was engulfed in light and disintegrated back to his original state of dead. Himeko flicked her hand and the ground threw Aeson across the room to knock him out. She rushed over to Jakub, just about catching him considering her strength wasn't great. "Are you ok?" She asked as Seraphine glared with unfathomably anger. "You will not ruin this!" She barked as Jin rose from the ground looking sad at being controlled by such horrors. "Himeko, run." He pleaded as he came forward.

Aeson went flying hitting the wall hard and then collapsing to the ground in a heap. His metal ropes dropping to the ground all around Himeko and Jakub.
Jakub was bloody and weak, "I am sorry...I am so sorry. I did not wish to hurt anyone..." He cried as blood and tears mixed. "I was angry and envious...I was controlled by darkness and I had no reason for light when I did it...it is all my fault. The prophecy was true...no greater sin can be made than that of killing one's own blood. I was the one who deserved death...not him." Jakub's mind was being poisoned. He was sick and the venom of the dead had poisoned his mind with guilt and fear and shame. He was jerking all over with no where to truly turn but to his own eerie thoughts. He was unable to even hold his head up and look at Himeko.

Himeko engulfed Jin in an earth prison before returning her attention to Jakub, worried for his health and safety. "Jakub, dear, you paid for your sins ten fold and are still paying by helping me. You are so close to redemption but to be reborn into light I need you to stay with me." She told him, cupping his face in her hands, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "You do not deserve death, no one does, everyone deserves a second chance and this is yours, do not waste it." She murmured, kissing his clammy forehead to calm his erratic behaviour down as Jin was throwing himself against his prison to break it down. She couldn't bare to look at her late husband, not now. He was too precious. Seraphina was in no mood to tolerate retaliation from mutts. Shadows raced towards Himeko and Himeko held Jakub close and muttered a quick spell inches from being engulfed when light radiated from a sphere that came out of one of her rings. "Jakub focus." The ground rumbled beneath him when roots came out and curled around his wounds almost leaching the poison out. She needed to get to Damian before Seraphina remembered his presence.

Jakub felt his body begin the healing process almost immediately as the vines wrapped around his arms and chest and neck. He stood weak, but he was standing. His face was enraged now. "Seraphine...You have cause quite enough damage for one day. We are taking Aeson and leaving you and your kingdom to burn." He said coughing a bit of blood up. His eyes were burning with fire clearly he may look weak, but something inside kept pushing him. His body started to turn into flame again his arms and legs and head bursting to life as his eyes began glowing brightly.

Seraphina's body began to spark and fizz as electricity rolled along her body in waves. Her one chance to earn the most suffering from her sister before leaching her power was diminishing fast. The glowing sphere got brighter and brighter till the shadows couldn't take it. She saw Damian and he sunk into the ground reappearing beside her. "Sunshine, can you here me?" She asked as Aeson appeared on her other side. She was worried for her son as well as their escape route. Seraphina shot electric bolts towards each and everyone of them. Himeko threw up a stone wall to absorb the shock. She thrust some projectile boulders at Seraphine who promptly burnt them to dust. "Jakub, calm down, you need to learn control. In situations like this, creative planning can go a long way compared to random outbursts of blinded anger.

Jakub tried listening but his heart was pumping too quickly and everything was spinning his head. His brother's face continued to appear in his eyes. Then the darkness that haunted him for so long began to seep in. He closed his eyes and felt wave after wave of every dark thought hit him. He turned facing Himeko.."I'm sorry...I can't control it. I like my power...I want it to flourish." He said it with a double voice as if someone else was peaking through him in their own voice as well as his. Suddenly black dust like shadows rose up from Aeson's unconscious body and moved toward Jakub attaching to him. Jakub's fire suddenly engulfed him as he stepped out of the light that himeko created and the shadows accepted him as one of their own. Jakub stood by Seraphina. "Let them escape this one time and we will take them by force after the coming war destroys this world to make room for a new awakening world of your creation." Jakub told the Tsaritsa.

Seraphina watched Himeko try and wake her son and smirked. She'd take everything she loved and brand their souls for hell. No demon would touch Seraphina with a barge pole due to her unanswered temper and fated power. What pleased her more was she'd managed to snare Jakub into her grasp and if the darkness had already burrowed its way through Damian and Aeson would be hers as well, though dressed in light it would be difficult. Himeko watched Jakub in disbelief, reaching out to grab him but was a breath too late. "Jakub, don't do this, you are a good and honest boy, you can fight this you have done so for many a time. Don't do this." She told him as shadows slammed against the barrier of life making Himeko flinch. Seraphine regarded them all and how pathetic they were. "It would be more entertaining I admit, though you along with the others are far more deserving of my wrath than any mercy."

Jakub stood by Seraphine, "May the gods smile down upon a world that we make for demons to walk freely." He smirked with such cold evil in the fire of his eyes as his bare chest was now healed by Himeko's vines they withered and fell. Jakub took Seraphina's hand into his own and turned her to face him taking her into a deep and passionate kiss. "Make me your consort...make me your slave and lover. I want the prophecies to be true. Let me rule this land with you." Jakub begged after pulling back on her bottom lip hard with his teeth.

Seraphine watched as the shadows began eating away at the light as Himeko strained to keep it up and help heal her son. Raising a brow she brief wondered who this we was finding the boy thought far too highly for himself. She could in fact disintegrate Markus's entire blood line if she wished and burn his kingdom to the ground. Surprised was she when Jakub pulled her into a kiss which was by all means his fault if he tasted cherry juice. It was a branding to mark him as her puppet as it were. His begging was cute but a dog could simply beg. Glaring at his persistence she placed a hand on his chest and pushed him away. "Boy you expect too much I am not as lenient as your father, pathetic one. Your sudden change of heart is questionable to say the least." The shadows pushed him forward again as Seraphina grasped Jakub's chin. "However, you will do for future entertainment. In the mean time how about you prove such bold loyalty and kill... Damian over there." She told him, forcing him to watch the others struggle. "You killed your beloved brother, you yearn to kill your father, what is one more drop of blood on your hands." She purred in his ear, nibbling on his ear lobe, as she trailed kisses down his pulse. "Well what are you waiting for, prince of so called darkness. Or perhaps I should recall your brother back up here and have him take your place." She teased. Himeko was begging both Aeson and Damian to wake. There was only so much she could do and to escape she needed their help for her to get them out to safety.

Jakub's glare was cold as he felt seduction overwhelm him. He moved once more taking the back of Seraphina's head as he forced yet another deep kiss upon her biting her lip hard and bringing blood this time as he pulled away. "On second thought...No thanks...I follow the light, now." He said with a devilish smirk. He held Seraphine in place by her shoulders and blue the shadows that seeped into him from Aeson into Seraphine's face with fire. For a split moment of distraction the shadows died down to normal shadows. "Himeko...Lets go!" He said in a rushed order no longer having time for formalities. He pulled Aeson up and then Damian walking with both of them toward the door. "Hurry!!! Come on Damian...I need you awake...lets go my friend...please." He said waiting for Himeko to open the door to lead into the corridor outside of the dining hall.

Seraphina was no fool to think the boy had simply changed his mind, her shadows receding to eat his flame. The seconds worth of destruction was enough to boil her blood as she locked the wound on her lip. "Nice try prince. But I can sense a true dark heart when I see one." She chuckled with malice. Her light gave in a second before the shadows died down. She helped Jakub and ran with him, throwing the doors open and throwing objects behind her to slow her sister down. She flung more doors open until they got to the main doors. Seraphina was blocking the exit. "Where do you think your going." She asked throwing them all to the back wall, the cast iron torches wrapping around their wrists to hold them in place like sacrifices after Seraphina hand muttered a brief spell. "You are all going to stay here and watch your kingdom die." She looked to Jakub. "Don't taunt a serpent of pleasure." She breathed, gripping his chin as she kissed him hard, a hand trailing down to his waist line, slowly sucking the life out of him as she forced his body into mind numbing pleasure so he wouldn't struggle. Letting go she went to Himeko. "You certainly have your hands full." She grinned flicking a dagger around her fingers, pressing the cold blade to her sisters cheek. "I shall keep your eyes as a reminder." She grinned. "And don't worry I'll take good care of your boys." She murmured.

((gtg))

Jakub was moving his head side to side slowly in a euphoria of pleasure. He was so lost in seduction and temptation he couldn't tell what was reality and what was in his head as fantasies moved in and out of him and Seraphina.
Damian started coming to. He was still dazed with no real clue as to what was going on, but at least he was reacting. "Mother?" He asked looking at Seraphine clearly out of it.
Aeson was also starting to stir, "Himeko? Are you alright?" He asked a bit more alert than Damian. "Let us go you dark Witch!" He ordered, but not sounding half as intimidating as he did when he had the upper hand.

Himeko went still at the dagger, finding her heart was pounding. She couldn't bring herself to kill anyone, it wasn't in her to do so, not without just cause but the more she witnessed Seraphine the more she thought her sister might deserve death for the crimes she had committed. She closed her eyes in relief as her son and husband re awoke, having thought she may have lost each one of them for a brief moment. Seraphina looked to Aeson with a smirk going over to him. "You certainly are lively to be giving orders. Maybe I should take you down a peg or two." She whispered in his ear as a dagger was buried hilt deep into his gut. "Ooops my hand slipped. Don't worry you won't die straight away. You'll have plenty of time to witness me killing your wife piece by lovely piece." She grinned, returning to Himeko. "Now I have spent a lot of time planning this and you will not ruin my grand entrance."

Aeson squinted in deep clear pain not daring to give her the enjoyment of a scream or cry. His gut began to bleed out slowly as it stained his shirt. "You will pay for this!" He managed.
Jakub struggled hard against his bindings, but then he stopped and closed his eyes. He felt the flames from the torches that bound them. "Yes, she will pay and she will reap what she sowed." He concentrated harder never having used his element with just his inner tie to it. He always used his hands to direct the flames.
Damian started at last coming into realization. He stared at Aeson and his mother in pain for them as he was helpless and unable to defend them. "Seraphine! Please...Let them go and I will grant you my soul. Every ounce of my being is yours...just release them this one time and you will undoubtedly kill them later. Just allow them freedom this one time." Damian said not begging nor was he grovelling. He was very stern almost dominant with his words. He was willing to sacrifice himself for his family.

Jakub may have been able to catch hold of the fire and Damian may have been able to stop his family from dying. However, in a loud crash of splintering wood and bending metal an entire section of the front wall flew apart. Lukas stood his hands up as black suited soldiers charged only to become disintegrated by a wave of light. He cast light within the entire room making it seem as if a star had landed in the room and did not burn out. Aeson had enough strength to bend the metal of the torches to release them, but as soon as he hit the ground he collapsed. Lukas shined his powers over Seraphina to blind her temporarily and it seemed the light was so bright coming from him that there was no room for a shadow to exist.

Seraphina huffed. "Pay with what dear? Your lives? Then gladly." She mused looking to Jakub who received daggers for eyes. He was testing her temper. "I will reap what my sister owes!" She growled grabbing him by the neck as her nails dug into his veins. "And you will be the first to go." She seethed, glancing at Damian and his pathetic pleas. "My dear you already sold your soul, that will never change. You belong to me and the darkness. Just because Himeko saved part of it for you doesn't mean to say I won't collect on your oath." She smirked, snapping her gaze the wall having to squint against the light. Not another mutt. Himeko was entirely grateful having thought they would be nothing but food for the shadows. "Lukas stay there." She called as she used the earth, every one of them being lifted by disks of earth before flying towards Lukas who also got scooped up on a disk carrying them all off at great speed, giving her sister no time to react. "We must get home." She urged.

Lukas was caught off guard completely when he realized what he was up against, but once he heard Himeko was safe he felt relieved. When he was swept up he pushed his light forward and kept a direct ray of light upon the tree fortress of Seraphina. "Himeko...I am sorry I disobeyed orders and left the palace, but I had to know that you were safe. I couldn't simply sit back and await for anything. I am sorry for my disobedience." He said feeling more guilty than he was feeling like a hero.

(( now I'm not sure what to do with them lol ))

((Take them back and prepare for war? Cause now Seraphine is out and wants revenge big time and Markus is already one ticked vamp.))

(( Yeah might as well. I'll post and then we can end the scene ))

Himeko looked to Aeson with sorrow and fright. She couldn't cope with losing so many of her beloved family. Looking to Lukas she chuckled softly. "Dear boy, you did a very brave thing and I am proud of you. Annoyed you deliberately put your life at risk but proud none the less." She mused, feeling a tear escape her. "You have done well and you have helped save many people. Be proud of yourself." She told him as they went back home, knowing that by the time they reach home, war would be biting at their heels.

[END SCENE]
{Himeko, Aeson, Damian, Jakub, and Lukas returning to Ӕldingar}

((Waiting for Mally to post.))

(( okie dokie ))